President Akufo-Addo has eulogised the late former Minister of Finance, Professor Kwesi Botchwey.

In a social media post on Monday, President Akufo-Addo said he was a fine gentleman. 

According to him, Professor Kwesi Botchwey discharged his duties thoughtfully and with dignity.

President Akufo-Addo thus extended his commiserations and that Ghanaians to the deceased family and his party - the National Democratic Congress. 

“The death of my good friend, Dr. Kwesi Botchway, is a very sad development. My contemporary, in the mid-1960s, at the University of Ghana, Legon, Dr. Botchway was a longstanding public servant, who discharged his duties thoughtfully and with dignity, and became Ghana’s longest-serving Minister for Finance and Economic Planning.

“The thoughts and sympathies of my wife, Rebecca, the First Lady, and I are with his partner, children and family. I extend my deepest condolences to them, and also to the National Democratic Congress, of which he was a prominent and much respected member. Ghana has lost a fine gentleman and exceptional public servant.”

President Akufo-Addo added that “may his soul rest in perfect peace in the Bosom of the Almighty until the Last Day of the Resurrection when we shall all meet again. Amen!”

This follows the demise of the law Professor on Saturday, November 19.

The erstwhile NDC appointee died after a short illness.

This sad incident reportedly happened at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, where he was receiving treatment.

Prior to his demise, he was a key member of the Council of Elders of the National Democratic Congress, having played an integral role in the evolution of the NDC, from its PNDC era.

He died at age 78.

Dr. Botchwey was Minister of Finance and Economic Planning from 1982 to 1995 when he was appointed by the late President J.J. Rawlings to assist in stabilizing Ghana’s economy at the time.

He received his secondary school education at Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School in Ghana. Dr. Botchwey holds an LL.B from the University of Ghana, a LL.M from Yale Law School, and doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School. 

He taught at the University of Zambia, the University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) and the University of Ghana.